Wednesday, 18 May 2016

Turtle Dove quest

Walland Marsh - cool, cloudy, sw 3 - 0700hrs - A wander around Cheyne Ct in breezy conditions delivered the expected Marsh Harriers and Lapwings, a few Yellow Wagtails, two Corn Buntings, good views of Bearded Tits and a surprise drake Garganey amongst the regular farmland birds such as Skylark and Linnet, although no Turtle Dove. Driving the lanes and pausing at previous favoured locations yielded two singing doves and another flushed from overhead wires. Also noted were a few Yellowhammers, Tree Sparrows and Buzzards.RSPB - 1030 - A circular walk around the reserve for a north Kent U3A group resulted in most of the regular breeding birds and one or two migrants, despite the occasional shower and blustery wind. On Burrowes Teal, Wigeon and Shovler were still present, plus a host of rain-dodging Swifts over the lake and a summer plum Turnstone in front of Makepeace hide.We enjoyed particularly good views of Sedge Warblers, Marsh Harriers and Lapwing, along with vocalising Bittern, Lesser Whitethroat and Chiffchaff. On the down side all three `tern` rafts on Dengemarsh have now been commandeered by Common Gulls and we saw a harrier take a Lapwing chick on Hayfield 1.Kenardington - Finishing off my Turtle Dove quest this afternoon a fourth bird for the day was singing from cover along the canal bank. The small marsh was alive with hirundines hawking insects, three Cuckoos cavorted over head and four Little Egrets busily snapped up frogs.